Sliding-door.



I, VAN K'LKEN.

s'LlmNG noos. l y v APPLICATION FILED IUNE l0, 1914.

j Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

narran srafras earner onirica.

JOHN VAN KOLKEN, OE GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

SLIDING noon.

Application filed June 10, 1914.

To at! iff/lont it may conce/fn lle it known that I, Joux VAN KOLKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improven'ients in Sliding Doors, of 'which the following is a specilic'ation. l

The primary purpose of this invention 1s the provision of novel means for automati cally operating complemental doors for closing openings in dwellings, buildings or like structures having doorways itted with lat.

' secured by proper manipulation of the manually controllable devices.

The invention consists of the novel features, details or' construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings hereto attached z-Figuse 1 is an elevation of sliding doors and actuating means therefor embodying the invention, showing the relation of the parts when the doors are closed. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 showing the relation of the parts when the doors are open. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line al1-a2 of'lig. l. Fig. e is a vertical section lon the line y-z/ of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 is a detailview of the/means for holding the doors in the required position.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

- The sliding doors 1 -may be mounted in manner tomove in opposition and arev arranged to close a doorway between comn'mnicating rooms, hallways or like places in dwellings or analogous structures. Such sliding doors are usually arranged to move into pockets formed in hollow partitions so that when opened the doors are hidden from Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. o, 1915.

serial No. 844,278.

View and do not interfere in any manner with the appearance or -furnishings of a. room, hallway or other place. In accordance with this invention spaces 2 are formed in the lower portions of the doors 1 intermediate of the sides thereof and receive sectors 3 or similar parts, such sectors being pivoted at their lower ends as indicated at and their outer edges being grooved to receive flexible connections 5,.such as cords, chains or straps. Each of such flexible connections is attached at one end to a sector 3, as indicated at 7, and has its opposite end fastened to a door as shownA at 6. Upper and lower bell cranks 9 and 10'are located within each of the pockets in which the doors l slide and the horizontal arms of such bell cranks are connected by means of a rod or bar l1 which is provided at its lower end with a weight 12 which is representative of a suitable counterbalance for exerting a downward pull upon the connection 11 to hold the door projected across the door opening. 'A pivote'd rod or bar 8 adjustably connects the upwardly ex- (tiending arm of the bell crank 10 with the oor.

the 'upwardly' extending arm of the bell crank 9. 1When the door 1 is-slid open the weight or counterbalancing means 12 .is moved upward and when the door is released the weight 12, or like part, exerting a downward pull upon the connection 11 serves to project the door across the doorway into closed position. y

A pit 14e is arranged beneath the vdoorway and receives the connecting means 16 and 1Ga between two platforms 15. The parts 1Ga are plates, whereas the part 1G is a pintle rod which passes through matching knuckles A rod or bar 13 is connected at one `end to the door. and at its opposite end to formed alongth'e lower edges of the plates and extend an equal distance upon opposite sides of the doorway so that a person approaching from either direction and stepping upon a platform depresses the same with the result that the doors are slid into 'open position. lt must be remembered that when the doors are open the counter balancing` means 12 are moved upward, hence when the platforms are relieved of the weight of 11o the person after passing through the doorway the doors are automatically closed by e dog 20 connectedthereto.

` of dangerous places atthe ends ofthe platforms which would be liable to result in a v fatality.

It is desirable at times to hold the doors open against the closing tendency ofl the counter 'balancing means 12, hence means have been devised for eifecting such results and in the simplest form, such means embody a bar 19 which is secured to the lower portion of one of the doors, a dog 20 arranged to engage the bar 19 and operating means for such dog.` The dog 20 may be conveniently mounted either upon the partition or Hoor and may be of any construction so long as it is adapted to engage the bar 19 and hold the doors at the required adapted position within their range of movement. A lever 2l mounted between its ends has the A second lever 22 mounted between its ends and arranged within convenient position has its extremities vcoupled to corresponding ends of the lever 21 by suitable connections 23. Push kbuttons 24 are connected with the xlever 22. By properly manipulating the push` buttons 24 the dog 20 may be moved into or out of engagement with the bar 19, thereby securing the doors or eifecting a release thereof.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw. ings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while'I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the'device which Iv now consider to be the best embodiment sides of the doors, sectors operating ir t,

incensi thereof, I desire to have it understood. the device shown 1s merely illustrative, that such changes may be made when des as are within the scope of the invention claimed. 1

-means between the platforms and 4door and leaves hinged to the ends of the platforms and extending outward therefrom.

2. In combination, sliding doors having recesses, platforms arranged upon opposite' sides of the doors, a pintle rod connecting the platforms, pivoted sectors operating 'in theV recesses and having flexible connection with the doors, and' connecting means be of tween the ends of the pintle rod and the sectors.'

3. In combination, sliding doors having recesses, platforms arranged upon oppor recesses, connecting means between the tors Land platforms, and flexible connecting means between the sectors and doors.

L 4,'In combination, a sliding door having' a recess in its lower portion, a depressible platform, a pivoted operating member ranged within the recess of the door, connecting means between such operating member and platform, and a flexible connection between the operating member and sliding4 door.

' In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` IGI-IN VAN KIiliElrl- Witnesses:

RICHARD BENNETT, WV., E. DONOVAN. 

